Thelonious Monk - Piano Solo (10" version Mono) / LP Sam Records

“It happens very rarely that you can praise a records without any reservations, this is the case here!!! A lot of ink has flowed across the page since the Vogue/Swing release (1955) of that founding solo record.

The repertoire was made up of pieces that Thelonious was playing in New York over that period, but in trio or with a quartet, here his music shows nakedness, i should say crudeness, which is completely overwhelming.

It is a black and white photograph of what is happening inside Monk's head; its sharpness is enthralling, as everyone has known for more than sixty years. We enter the world of one of the most original artists. Monk, at 37,

is at the peak of his art.” (Laurent De Wilde) “Piano Solo" was recorded on June 4, 1954, at the Studio du Club d'Essai de la R.T.F., 37 Rue de l’Université, Paris, and was originally released in 10-inch format on the Swing label.

The album was later released in an expanded form under the title “The Prophet” as a 12-inch LP on Disques Vogues and – supplemented by a trio session with French musician – under the title “Solo 1954” on CD by Columbia

Records. For the reissue of “Piano Solo,” Sam Records decided to adhere strictly to the original version – both in terms of the 10-inch format and the original tracklist. To this end, Sam Records commissioned Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio)

to produce the lacquer cuts and Optimal Media in Germany to press the record. The facsimile reissue of the album, limited to 2,000 copies, naturally comes with the original cover and a double-sided insert featuring original photos by Marcel

Fleiss Sam Records is a non-profit, independent jazz label based in Paris, France, founded in 2011 by Fred Thomas. The label is dedicated to reissuing jazz records recorded and produced in France in the 1950s and 1960s. All record covers

are recreated using the original photos, paintings, and/or drawings.

We recommend the use of "L'Art du Son" LP cleaner to wet wash your vinyl. Even new records of high quality production will benefit from this.

 

Title

Side A :
1.    Round About Midnight
2.    Evidence
3.    Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
4.    Well You Needn’t

Side B:
1.    Reflections
2.    We See
3.    Eronel
4.    Off Minor